Coughlin, Giants coping with injuries

EAST RUTHERFORD — The Giants are going to pay a high price for another big win.

Head coach Tom Coughlin confirmed that Monday when he met the media to discuss Sunday night’s 38-10 win over Green Bay, a win that cost Big Blue the services of running back Andre Brown with a broken fibula.

The Giants have opted to put Brown on the injured-reserve-designated-to-return list which means the earliest he could be back would be eight weeks — which is the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Brown got his team-leading eighth rushing touchdown when he scored on a 2-yard run two minutes into the game, and upped his rushing numbers to 385 yards by gaining 64 on 13 carries.

Coughlin called the roster move “realistic” since Brown has had an injury-plagued career with Big Blue.

“I think it’s going to provide Andre with great incentive and we want that experience for him. He was very disappointed last night, let’s put it that way, frustrated,” said Coughlin.

“He’s had some seasons end in this way before and I think this is a way to, perhaps, motivate, inspire him. Give him great purpose and hopefully that will help.”

Brown’s injury wasn’t the only one a Giants starter suffered, but was the most serious.

Veteran tackle David Diehl suffered a burner (pinched nerve) and was replaced in the second half by Sean Locklear, who had started for eight games earlier this year when Diehl had a knee injury.

The injuries put a damper on a win that allowed the Giants to widen their lead in the NFC East race to two games over Washington — the team they play next on the road this coming Monday.

“It was a very enjoyable opportunity to get together with our team following a good win, in which all three phases played reasonably well and contributed,” said Coughlin. “That was the objective going in; to play a game the way we’re capable of playing it, to allow the energy, the effort, and the passion, and subsequently the execution to come back into our play.

“We started in the right direction there. We’re excited about that.

“It started out as a six-game schedule, now it’s five. Every game is critical, every game important. This week when we get started our preparation will be for a divisional game, a Monday night game. Every game is of the utmost importance. I think the players will respond,” said Coughlin.

As for the running back situation without Brown it means rookie David Wilson now becomes the main backup to Ahmad Bradshaw.

Having only two RBs “would be about as thin as you could make it,” said Coughlin. We’ll have to look at that for the next couple days.”

Ultimately the Giants could bring in a veteran back currently out of the league. Free agents on that list currently include former Colt Joseph Addai, ex-Viking and Steeler Mewelde Moore, and maybe even Jersey boy Ryan Grant out of Don Bosco Prep, who the Giants cut in 2007 to keep Bradshaw. Grant went on to have a 1,000-yard season at Green Bay. He played briefly in Washington in 2011.

Wilson becomes the latest next man up in the Coughlin scheme.

Wilson carried 11 times against the Packers.

“If I was going into the game and wanted to sort it out, and find out what he could and couldn’t do and give him a chance, it probably would’ve been close to that number,” said Coughlin.

“It’s his time. The timing as far as where he’s coming from couldn’t be any better, I don’t think. If he’s been very vigilant, and paid attention to the way that people have been corrected in front of him, then he’s going to give himself the best opportunity.

“It is a great opportunity for him and I think for our team as well, in terms of what could develop here in this stage of the season for David. It would’ve been a real plus for us to have all three of the backs, Andre included, going down the stretch, because the contribution of Andre last night was very strong as well.”

“I thought two of his runs were very close to going,” Coughlin speculated. “He was probably one swipe away on a draw and even on the play he was hurt on it was a very good and impressive play. That having been said, David steps up and he’s got to do it.”